Nintendo and The Pokémon Company International have always done their best to get the Pokémon anime into the hands of fans. From entire streaming platforms to deals with companies like Netflix, Pocket Monsters are a hot commodity always in ready supply when it comes to television. Now, the first season of the Pokémon anime will be taking up residence in a new place: Disney+ and Hulu.
Subscribers will be able to begin streaming the show on either platform starting August 7, 2026. Here’s how Disney describes the show:
It’s Ash Ketchum’s tenth birthday, and he’s ready to do what many 10-year-olds in the Kanto region set out to do—become a Pokémon Trainer! Things don’t go exactly the way he planned when he ends up with a Pikachu instead of a standard first Pokémon, and winning Gym Badges turns out to be much tougher than he thought. Luckily he’s got former Gym Leaders Brock and Misty at his side, along with a bevy of new Pokémon friends, including Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander.
If you’re interested in a non-streaming option, the first season will come to Disney XD a day earlier on August 6, 2026, and will air regularly on the channel thereafter. Given beloved stars Ash and Pikachu are no longer the stars of the anime, it might be a good opportunity to enjoy the classic version of the anime, eh? Tell us what you think in the comments and on social media!
Source: Disney Press Release